Page 60 of A Scottish Island Summer

I felt my own lips parting, but a gull let out an indignant shriek that broke the spell and I pulled myself away from Logan.

He released his grip on me.

‘That was a close call.’

Logan cleared his throat. ‘You need to be careful around here. I did tell you. The rocks can be hazardous.’

My attention fixated on his delectable features again.

Logan was handsome, intelligent, funny and flirty, but I wouldn’t allow myself to fall for him.

Nope. No. Wasn’t going there.

Relationships complicated things. They created chaos. I had my career to think of, and the possibilities of where this project could take me: reality TV; high profile sponsorship deals; perhaps even one day my own radio or TV travel show, if I was lucky.

I would soon leave Skye behind, along with everything and everyone on it. This trip was just about gathering information and experiences for my book. It was a means to an end.

I ignored the odd, melancholy sensation flaring up in the pit of my stomach. ‘Thank you … for rescuing me.’ I offered him an awkward smile. ‘Again.’

‘Aye, it does seem to be becoming a bit of a habit. Not that I’m complaining.’

I refused to register Logan’s lingering gaze and got ready to record some video. ‘So,’ I exclaimed, negotiating my way towards the impressive and huge dinosaur footprint with much more care this time, ‘I’ll start recording and if you could give me some more information, please, about the prints around here…’

‘Yes. Of course. Right.’ Logan refocused.

I made sure I was solid on my feet this time and began to film Logan as he spoke about the three-toed prints belonging to ornithopods, or two-legged herbivores. ‘Do you know how they came to be here? How were they found?’ I asked him.

‘Over time, the prints filled up with silt or sand. Under the right conditions, they slowly harden and became embedded in the rock.’

Logan delivered a devastating smile right down my lens. I tried to steady my breath.

‘Fifteen per cent of the world’s mid-Jurassic discoveries have been made right here on Skye.’

Logan’s hair was ruffling up in the spring breeze and there was something mesmerising about the way he was speaking about the fossils and the wild landscape. He was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I never would’ve believed that talk of exoskeletons and microbes could be so sexy.

‘Darcie? Are you listening?’

A burgundy blush shot up my neck. ‘What? Oh yes. Sorry. Of course.’

‘OK, so as I was saying, in Score Bay, we have prints from sauropods, which belong to the same family as brontosaurus and diplodocus.’

I stopped recording for a few moments. The air was tinged with the smell of sea salt. ‘I bet you were one of those kids who had a dinosaur bedspread, table lamp and wallpaper in your bedroom.’

Logan waggled a brow. ‘Maybe I still do. You’re welcome to find out.’

The thought of being in Logan’s bedroom, whether it was splashed with Barney the dinosaur merchandise or not, made my throat dry up.

Then annoyance lit up inside me. I should be concentrating on my social media and gathering more background information for this book, not mooning over Logan.

I gave myself a sharp talking to as the rocks shone like satin around us.

Sacrifices had to be made and tough decisions taken. Justine was always saying if I wanted to make something of myself, something else had to give.

Happiness, trilled a little voice inside my head.

I opened and closed my eyes a few times and gripped my camera tighter. ‘This place really is like something out of Jurassic Park, like you said. I’m surprised that our bearded friend hasn’t been here in amongst the fossils. Then again, maybe he has.’

Logan stilled. He stared at me. His flirty expression vanished. ‘What did you just say?’

‘What did I just say?’

Logan’s brows gathered. ‘The bit about that strange guy and fossils.’ His features were preoccupied. ‘That’s it. I knew I recognised him!’

Logan took off back towards me over the rocks and trembling rock pools. His hypnotic eyes, almost as deep and silvery as the shimmering water, were lit up. ‘It can’t be him, surely?’ It was as if he were having a conversation with himself.

‘Logan, what are you talking about? Have you been exposed to too much sea air?’

He shook his dark brown head, an excited grin promising to break out across his face. ‘Look, I don’t know this for definite, but…’ His voice tailed off and he nodded to himself when he spotted my confused expression. ‘Right. How about I show you some more dinosaur fossils and then we can head to a nearby café for a cuppa and an explanation? I think I might just know who our bearded gentleman is.’